Purpose of the Kittitas County Genealogical Society (KCGS) is:
To create, stimulate and maintain interest in all matters pertaining to genealogical and historical knowledge.
To collect and preserve genealogical and historical records.
To promote interest in family history.
To hold classes for beginning and advanced genealogical research.
To publish bulletins, books, papers, and articles.
Genealogist's Code of Ethics
In order to protect the integrity of public records and library books, I am ethically bound and will hereby agree:
1. That I will treat with the greatest care and respect all public records and library books which may be made available for my use.
2. That I will speak with courtesy to all employees of a vital records office or of a public library when requesting to see any vital records or library books, and that when finished with such record or book, I shall express my thanks to the person attending to my requests.
3. That I will not tear, erase, mark, or remove any public record or library book and will refrain from mutilating, defacing, or otherwise destroying any part of such public record or library book.
4. That when I have finished viewing any public record or library book, I will return it to the proper or designated place.
This pledge is freely made by me upon penalty of forfeiting my membership in this society.
About Our Society:
The Kittitas County Genealogical Society (KCGS) was founded in March 1983 as a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. While we specialize in genealogical resources from Kittitas County Washington, our collection has many resources for other areas, states and countries.
The society has published several books pertaining to county history over the years. These publications are available for purchase by contacting the society. The society also publishes a quarterly newsletter, The KCGS Mailbox for its members. Yearly memberships are available for 1 person (Individual option) and 2 person (Couple option). See "Join/Renew Membership" menu item (on left) for further details.
Our society Library facility is located at 413 N. Main Street (Suites L & M) in Ellensburg, Washington. There we have our collection of reference books and materials and computers with internet access to several genealogical subscription sites. During our open Library hours, there are volunteer librarians on-duty to assist users.
About Our County:
Kittitas County (pronounced KITT-I-tass) is located almost in the center of Washington State. It is on the eastern edge of the Cascade Mountain range and is in the “rain shadow” of the Cascades. That means the county is on the dry side of the Cascades and only receives approximately 8 to 9 inches of precipitation yearly.
The county extends from the crest of the Cascades on the west to the shores of the Columbia River on the east. Interstate 90 runs east and west through the county. A person can travel all the way on I-90 from Seattle on the west side of the Cascades clear over to Boston on the east coast of the United States. Interstate 82 begins at an intersection with I-90 in Kittitas County before heading southeastward into Oregon.
The Kittitas Valley itself is basically flat though the valley itself is surrounded by hills. Ellensburg is the county seat and largest populated place in the county. Ellensburg is also home to Central Washington University. Other populated places in the county include Cle Elum, Roslyn, Ronald, South Cle Elum, Easton, Liberty, Thorp, Kittitas and Vantage.
Seattle is approximately 100 miles to the west of Ellensburg via I-90 and Spokane is approximately 170 miles to the east via I-90.
